Pioneering Companies, Products and Services with the Intersolar AWARD 2013

Today, (19.6.2013) for the sixth time running, the Intersolar AWARD was presented to companies at the world's largest exhibition for the solar industry, Intersolar Europe, in Munich. The solar industry's international award recognizes companies, products and services in the categories of Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Technologies and - for the first time this year - Solar Projects in Europe. The technology prize was presented to eight companies in an official ceremony at Intersolar Europe's Innovation Exchange at 4:30pm today. The prize is awarded annually by the organizers of Intersolar Europe, Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim, and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG. (FWTM), in collaboration with the German Solar Industry Association (BSW-Solar) e.V., Berlin. The Intersolar AWARD was open to all exhibitors of international Intersolar events in 2013 as well as to exhibitors from Intersolar India 2012.

Companies interested in participating were invited to submit their applications between February 1 and March 28, 2013. A total of 101 companies from 19 countries seized this year's chance to compete for the Intersolar AWARD. By mid-May 2013, a total of 26 companies were nominated for the renowned solar prize in the categories of Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal Technologies and Solar Projects in Europe. An independent jury composed of experts from research, science, industry and trade media selected the winners of the Intersolar AWARD 2013 from a group of finalists. This year, the Intersolar AWARD in the category of PV Production Technologies, which up until now has been presented at Intersolar Europe, is being awarded at Intersolar North America on July 9, 2013.

New category: Solar Projects in Europe

This year for the first time, exhibitors were invited to make submissions in the category of Solar Projects in Europe. This category honored projects from the three topics of Photovoltaics and Energy Storage, Solar Thermal Applications, and PV Applications (Industrial and Commercial Use) that have set a particularly inspiring example in driving forward the energy transition. For applications to be valid, projects had to be fully completed and no older than two years at the time the application for the Intersolar AWARD was submitted. To become shortlisted, applicants had to prove that the project offered a groundbreaking and unique solution. The jury also based its decision on how the project could benefit society and the environment, as well as the resulting economic benefits and level of technical innovation.

Winners in the Photovoltaics category

LG Electronics Deutschland GmbH, Ratingen has developed a particularly high-performing solar module, the Mono X NeoN, which boasts both improved efficiency and lower costs. This is made possible by using n-type (bifacial) solar cells, which use solar insolation from two sides and an improved light coupling. The jury was impressed with the combination of technologies and the economic viability of the solar module.

Schletter GmbH, Kirchdorf has developed the Smart PV Charge, an intelligent charging process for the improved on-site consumption of solar power in combination with e-mobility. Acting as an interface between the PV system, energy manager and battery of an electric vehicle, the Smart PV Charge ensures that solar power can be used to supply houses or charge vehicles as required. The jury was won over by the flexible charging process and additional storage capacity, which can help to achieve more than 80% of on-site consumption.

The Sunny Boy Smart Energy of SMA Technology AG in Niestetal is a compact, fully-integrated storage system that is quick and easy to install. With a capacity of 2 kilowatt hours (kWh), the storage system is particularly suitable for private homes looking to achieve a high rate of on-site consumption of solar power. Using a durable lithium-ion battery has a positive effect on the storage system's overall economic viability and reduces the risk of failure.

Winners in the Solar Thermal Technologies category

Clique Solar from Mumbai, India has developed a large-scale solar thermal collector for industrial and commercial use in sunny regions. The two-axis dish concentrator Arun 100 produces hot water or steam at temperatures of up to 250°C.

The collector is suitable for a whole range of applications, such as the generation of process heat for industrial applications, or the operation of a vapor absorption machine. The jury was impressed with the collector's range of applications for industrial and commercial use and the short payback period of 2-4 years.

The solar water heater from Ezinc Metal San. Tic. A.S. from Melikgazi, Turkey heats water without using pumps. The water is heated directly inside the Nanosol Compact Solar Water Heater's storage tank, which saves costs and reduces the risk of failure.

The jury praised the economic viability of this solar thermal application as well as the easy-to-install and space-saving plug&play system.

Winners in the Solar Projects in Europe category

Belectric Solarkraftwerke GmbH from Kolitzheim has opened Germany's third largest PV power plant in Templin (Brandenburg), boasting a nominal power of 128 megawatt peak (MWp). Solar Power Plant Templin consists of 1.5 million thin-film modules and 114 inverters. Thanks to dynamic controls, the intelligent power plant technology ensures a stable operating voltage and compensates for grid fluctuations at all times of the day. Special electronics counteract reactive power and a phase shifter guarantees that useless reactive power is balanced out.

Galaxy Energy GmbH from Berghülen has designed an energy system for a carbon-neutral building, which does not require gas, oil or wood for heating. At the heart of the Galaxy Energy Building is a rafter system which allows the photovoltaic modules to be integrated into the roof. The innovative energy system also includes a ceiling-mounted air heater, a heat pump and an integrated ice storage system for heating and cooling the building, depending on the time of year.

Hamburg-based Conergy AG has set up a roof-mounted PV system (8 kWp) on top of the Lasal del Varador restaurant in the Spanish city of Barcelona designed for maximum on-site consumption. Its special characteristics are: Instead of designing the PV installation for maximum output and stand-alone operation, the size of this system was adapted for the direct use of solar power. The jury felt that this was a pioneering project that exemplarily pointed towards the future of solar installations, which are conceivable without state funding due to their high on-site consumption.